The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Studio portrait of four members of the 50th Battalion AIF. Standing in the back row are 3843 Private (Pte) Arthur Harold Hewitt from Hackney, South Australia, 4818 Pte Sydney Taylor Mace from Gladstone, South Australia and 1693 Pte William Vincent Hodgens from Tothill's Creek, South Australia. Sitting in the front is 2717 Corporal (Cpl) James Allen Murray from Maylands, South Australia. Pte Hewitt was a 27 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 11 October 1915 and embarked for overseas with the 9th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion from Adelaide on 7 February 1916 aboard HMAT Miltiades. After joining the 50th Battalion in Egypt, he went with them to France in June 1916. In December 1916 he was court martialled for desertion and sentenced to five years prison. This was later commuted to 2 years hard labour but he was released and returned to his unit on 22 April 1918. A week later he went absent without leave and was again sent to prison. He arrived back in Australia on 5 August 1919. Pte Mace was a 30 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 25 November 1915 and he embarked for overseas with the 15th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 9 March 1916 aboard RMS Mongolia. A week after arriving in Egypt in June, he went to France and joined the 50th Battalion on 13 August 1916. He was killed in action on 2 April 1917 and buried in the Military Cemetery at Noreuil, France. After the war his grave could not be located and he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France with others who have no known grave. Pte Hodgens was a 24 year old farmer prior to enlisting on 6 March 1916 and embarked for overseas with the 2nd Reinforcements of the 50th Battalion from Adelaide on 11 April 1916 aboard HMAT Aeneas. Following further training in Egypt he joined the 50th Battalion and went with them to France in June 1916. He was wounded in action near Fricourt, France on 16 November 1916 and was awarded a Military Medal for his gallant behaviour during that action. After being evacuated to England for medical treatment, he died from his wounds on 9 December 1916 at the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital in Northfield, UK. Pte Hodgens is buried in the Lodge Hill Cemetery, Sellyoak, Birmingham, UK. Cpl Murray was a 20 year old plumber prior to enlisting on 21 April 1915 and embarked for overseas with the 8th Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Adelaide on 2 September 1915. After joining the 10th Battalion at Mudros on 25 November 1915, he transferred to the 50th Battalion in Egypt in February 1916 and went with them to France in June 1916. He was promoted to Corporal on 11 September 1916 and then killed in action at Noreuil, France on 2 April 1917. Cpl Murray is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France with others who have no known grave.
This photograph is also part of the Thuillier collection of glass-plate negatives. See P10550.350.
Group portrait of four members of the 50th Battalion. Standing in the back row are 3843 Private (Pte) Arthur Harold Hewitt from Hackney, South Australia, 4818 Pte Sydney Taylor Mace from Gladstone, So
Studio portrait of 1693 Private (Pte) William Vincent Hodgens, 50th Battalion from Tothill's Creek, South Australia. A 24 year old farmer prior to enlisting on 6 March 1916, he embarked for overseas w
Studio portrait of 1693 Private (Pte) William Vincent Hodgens, 50th Battalion from Tothill's Creek, South Australia. A 24 year old farmer prior to enlisting on 6 March 1916, he embarked for overseas w
Portrait of 1728 Private (Pte) Francis Roy Purdey, 50th Battalion from Terowie, South Australia. A 21 year old engine cleaner prior to enlisting on 16 February 1916, he embarked for overseas with the
Portrait of 4140 Private (Pte) Percy Aylmer Beauchamp, 50th Battalion from Goodwood, South Australia. A 20 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 13 April 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 13th
Studio portrait of 3847 Private (Pte) John Healy, 50th Battalion from Adelaide, South Australia. A 44 year old bricklayer prior to enlisting on 10 September 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 9th
Studio portrait of 1736 Private (Pte) Herbert Salter, 50th Battalion from Mitcham, South Australia. A 30 year old labourer prior to enlisting on 14 March 1916, he embarked for overseas with the 2nd Re
